Elizabeth O'Kane is an award winning sculptor and painter, originally from Northern Ireland, now working in Dublin. Her work follows the realist tradition.

Sculptures

Elizabeth is interested in anatomy, portraiture, and movement. She sculpts people, animals, and birds, working in clay, casting in bronze, and carving in stone. Public sculpture commissions include

life size sculpture of world famous Irish tenor, Count John McCormack, in Dublin's Iveagh Gardens,

champion Irish greyhound Mick the Miller, in Killeigh, County Offaly, and

large bronze portrait busts of John Hearne, in Waterford City and Washington DC.

Paintings

Elizabeth's paintings are strongly architectural. Detailed cityscapes are captured in
strong sunlight, bold shadows give the work a sculptural aspect. Working in watercolour, her paintings have been described as photorealist. Travel is a recurrent theme; originally a translator by profession, she has worked and studied in New York, Paris, Florence, and Dublin. Elizabeth is a member of the Water Colour Society of Ireland and of the Ulster Watercolour Society.

Exhibition & Collections

Elizabeth exhibits with the Royal Hibernian and Royal Ulster Academies of Art, and the Society of Portrait Sculptors in England. Collectors include the International Rugby Board, the Irish Rugby Football Union, The National Concert Hall, Belfast City Hall and New York New York Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. She works to commission for public, corporate, and private collections. She also prepares work for galleries and exhibitions; her work sells as unique pieces, or in small limited editions.

A new short film has been made about Elizabeth's work. The film was produced and directed by photographer Alan Currie, and music composed by DJ/composer Aaron McClelland.

Elizabeth has been working on a number of sculpture commissions for the Munster region:

Last December Elizabeth was interviewed in a French television travel documentary 'Echappées belles' about Dublin on France 5. Click here to watch the show (fast forward to 1 hour 8 minutes).

Elizabeth's recent bronze portrait bust sculptures will be installed in Muscat, Oman in February, and an unveiling at the Irish Embassy Irish Embassy in Washington D.C. in April.

New work projects include a bronze sculpture for the University of Limerick's 'Chancellors' Walk', and a watercolour painting commissioned for The National Library of Ireland.

Elizabeth is honoured to be an Invited Artist at the 2018 RHA's 188th Annual Exhibition in May.

When her work schedule permits Elizabeth gives classes in portrait sculpture with live model in her Dublin studio. Students learn acute observational skills in how to approach the portrait, how to take measurements from the model, and how to bring the clay to life to achieve a strong likeness. The classes are small, intensive, and are suitable for all levels from beginners to those with artistic experience.

You can read more about Elizabeth's work in an interview on the Blog page of The Design Tower studio's website. Click here to read the interview, and click here to watch a promotional film about the Design Tower.